Govt, afraid of the public voice, proved its panic by stopping the protest rally : Asghar Kan Achakzai
Quetta :
The Awami National Party (ANP) had announced a protest demonstration in Balochistan against lawlessness, extortion, economic strangulation, and the violation of public rights, but the police stopped it.
On this occasion, ANP workers postponed the protest and held an emergency press conference at the Quetta Press Club. Provincial president Asghar Khan Achakzai, along with other provincial and central office bearers and hundreds of workers, attended the press conference. Addressing the press conference, Asghar Khan Achakzai said they did not want a clash with the police, which is why the protest rally was postponed and an emergency press conference was held instead.
ANP Balochistan provincial president Asghar Khan Achakzai said that today, ANP Balochistan had announced a peaceful protest rally in front of the Quetta Press Club against rising lawlessness in the province, target killings, extortion, the spread of narcotics, plunder of public resources, the economic strangulation of Pashtuns, restrictions on trade and family movement at the Durand Line, and in support of the legitimate demands of Young Doctors, the Grand Alliance, and other employees. However, he said, a government installed on the basis of Form 47, with a bogus and stolen mandate, acting on state directives, tried to forcibly suppress this democratic and constitutional right.
He said it is extremely regrettable that on one hand the public is suffering from lawlessness, killings, extortion, insecurity on the highways, unemployment and economic hardship, while on the other hand, instead of solving these problems, the government is busy blocking those who raise their voice against them. The question arises, he said, if the Awami National Party is raising its voice against all these injustices, lawlessness and anti-people policies, then why are the government and its patron circles afraid of this voice? What is this panic that even a peaceful political protest cannot be tolerated?
Asghar Khan Achakzai said that the Awami National Party believes in democratic struggle and has never wanted a confrontation with the police or law enforcement agencies. That is why, he said, when the Quetta Press Club and surrounding areas were cordoned off with heavy police deployment to stop a peaceful protest, the party acted responsibly and decided to present its position to the public through an emergency press conference instead of a clash.
He said the government’s attitude has become vindictive, not only towards political parties but towards oppressed groups from every sector. Instead of resolving the legitimate demands of Young Doctors, they are being dismissed from their jobs; those demanding the facts be brought out in the Dr. Mah Noor Nasir case are being suppressed; workers of the Balochistan Grand Alliance and government employees are being treated harshly; and protest has been turned into a crime. This conduct, he said, is not that of a democratic government, but of rulers afraid of the public voice.
He made it clear that despite all kinds of oppression, injustice and undemocratic tactics, the Awami National Party will continue its political, constitutional and democratic struggle.
